Hunters Hood with Adjustable Face Opening

ABSTRACT

The hunter&#39;s hood with an adjustable face opening has fabric side panels and a fabric center panel that are sewn together. A face opening is encircled by a fabric tube that is sewn to the side panels and to the center panel by stitches. The fabric tube permits the passage of a persons head through the face opening. An elastic line passes through the right side panel, into the fabric tube, under the face opening, and out through the left fabric tube and side wall. An elastic upper line is mounted in the fabric tube above the face opening. An elastic line right end passes through a right loop end on the upper line. An elastic line left end passes through a left loop on the upper line. Tensioning the elastic line tensions the elastic upper line. Releasing tension on the elastic line releases tension on the upper line.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/097,156 titled HUNTERS HOOD WITH ADJUSTABLE FACE OPENING filed Sep. 15, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a hood for protecting a person's head face and neck and more particularly to a hood with a lower face cover and an adjustable vision opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hunters employ hoods for protection from the elements and to avoid detection by the animals that are being hunted. The hunters may be photographers, bow and arrow hunters or firearm hunters. The hunters may also be individuals that desire to merely observe animals in their natural habitat. All of these hunters like to be as close to the animals that they hunt as possible. For some animals such as elephants, moose and bears it is not safe to be too close.

Animals such as antelope, deer and elk have keen senses of sight, hearing and smell. To view such animals in their natural habitat at close range it is necessary to be quiet, limit movement, have appropriate camouflage and eliminate odors that would alert animals to the presence of the hunter.

Hoods are employed to cover the head and ears and leave the face uncovered. Hoods are made from fabrics that provide camouflage for a particular area and the time of year. Fabrics with various camouflage patterns that blend in with colors in various areas of the world and during different seasons of the year are available.

Covering the face has been difficult. Ski masks or a cloth covering in addition to a hood are possibilities. Such covering for the face to eliminate vision interference require frequent adjustment. Camouflage face covering compounds can be used. Such compounds take time to apply, tend to smear and move with perspiration, may be difficult to remove and do not change the shape or profile of hunter's face. The compounds often irritate the eyes.

Odors created by hunters and animals can be carried by the wind. Such odors can also be deposited on the ground and vegetation. Blood hounds have a keen sense of smell that allows them to track animals including men. In some cases blood hounds can find a path and track a hunter several hours after the hunter has past. Many animals have some ability to detect hunters and avoid them. Smells in the air can alert hunted animals of the possible presence of hunters upwind from them. Odors on the ground can also alert some animals to the presence of hunters.

Clothing with hoods as well as separate hoods have been sold with charcoal liners. It was claimed that the charcoal absorbed the odors emitted by hunters. It was also claimed that the charcoal liners could be washed to remove the odors and thereby renewed. It is now believed that charcoal embedded in the lining can absorb some odors emitted by a hunter. However it is also believed that charcoal must be raised to a temperature above that obtainable in standard washing machines to eliminate body odors from the charcoal in clothing. Clothing with charcoal is therefore effective for eliminating body odors for a few hours one time only.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The hunter's hood with an adjustable face opening includes an outer shell. The outer shell includes a fabric left side panel, a fabric right side panel, and a fabric central panel. The center panel is sewn to the fabric left side panel and sewn to the fabric right side panel.

A left ear opening is provided in the fabric left side panel. A left ear opening top tongue is sewn to the fabric left side panel. The left ear opening top tongue is movable between a left ear opening closed position and a left ear opening open position. A right ear opening is provided in the fabric right side panel. A right ear opening top tongue is sewn to the fabric right side panel. The right ear opening tongue is movable between a right ear opening closed position and a right ear opening open position.

A face opening is encircled by the fabric center panel, the fabric left side panel, the fabric right side panel. A fabric connection is provided between the fabric left side panel and the fabric right side panel below the face opening.

A fabric tube is sewn to the fabric left side panel, the fabric right side panel, and the fabric center panel. The fabric tube extends completely around the face opening. The fabric tube forms a passage sized to permit passage of a hunters head through the face opening.

A left strap assembly, with an adjustable length, has a left first end secure to the fabric left side panel above and to the rear of the left ear opening. The left strap assembly also includes a left second end secured to the fabric left side panel above and to the front of the left ear opening.

A right strap assembly, with an adjustable length, has a right first end secured to the fabric right side panel above and to the rear of the right ear opening. The right strap assembly also includes a right second end secured to the fabric right side panel above and to the front of the front of the left ear opening.

A right grommet is provided in the fabric right side panel above and to the rear of the right ear opening. A right tube grommet is provided in the fabric tube. A left grommet is provided in the fabric left side above and to the rear of the left ear opening. A left tube grommet is provided in the fabric tube.

A stretchable elastic line passes through the right grommet from a hood outside to a hood inside, through the right tube grommet through the fabric tube, under the face opening, through the left tube grommet into the hood inside, and through the left grommet in the fabric left side panel to the hood outside. A spring biased clamp receives a right elastic line end and a left elastic line end on the hood outside.

A stretchable upper elastic line is mounted inside the fabric tube. The upper elastic line extends through the fabric tube above the face opening. The upper elastic line right end has an end loop that receives the stretchable elastic line adjacent to the right tube grommet and inside the fabric tube. An upper line left end loop receives the stretchable elastic line adjacent to the left tube grommet end inside the fabric tube.

Tensioning the stretchable elastic line and holding the tension with the spring biased clamp tensions the stretchable upper elastic line. Releasing tension on the stretchable elastic line by releasing the spring biased clamp releases tension on the stretchable upper elastic line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the following description and in the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hood with an adjustable opening around a hunter's eyes and a front zipper opening;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hood that is an integral part of a pull over coat with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal cords for adjusting the size and shape of the opening in a pull over hood;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hood similar to FIG. 3 with a front zipper opening and parts broken away; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hood shown in FIG. 1 rolled up for storage when not in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The hood 10 includes an outer shell 12 of fabric made from polyester fibers 14. The fibers 14 let air pass through for cooling and drying. Polyester fibers 14 do not absorb water and will shed water for a period of time.

The hood 10 has a left side panel 16, and a right side panel 18. The left side panel 16 is a mirror image of the right side panel 18 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 1 and 4. The top 20 and back 22 of the hood 10 preferably includes a center panel 24 that provides an improved fit. Left and right ear openings 26 are provided in the side panels 16 and 18. Ear opening flaps 28 cover both ear openings 26. Each flap 28 has a top tongue 30 that extends through one of the ear openings 26 and is sewn to an inside surface of the side panel 16 or 18 above the ear openings 26. The ear opening flaps 28 are somewhat larger than the ear openings 26 and close the openings as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To uncover the ear openings 26, a magnet 32 sewn into a lower portion of each ear opening flap 28 is moved up to a position adjacent to a magnet 34 sewn to the adjacent side panel 16 or 18 above the ear openings 26. The magnets 32 and 34 attract each other and hold the ear opening flaps 28 up thereby uncovering the ear openings 26. A hunter can hear noises made by hunted animals much better when the ear openings 26 are uncovered. The ear opening flaps 28 in the lowered position protect a hunter's ear from cold air when they cover the ear openings 26. A wind can lift ear opening flaps 28 at times. During windy weather, the ear opening flaps 28 can be forced through the ear openings 26 and held against the inside walls of a left and right side panels 16 and 18 by the hunter's ears thereby blocking air out of the hood 10. The ear opening flaps 28 are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,389, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The face opening 38 has a circumference that is sufficiently large to permit most hunters to insert their head through the opening. This permits the upper portion of the hood 10 to be rolled into a ring that surrounds a hunters neck when the hood is not needed. The edges of the opening 38 are formed by a strip of fabric that is folded over and sewn together along long edges to form a tube 40. The tube 40 is sewn to the left side panel 16, the center panel 24 and the right side panel 18 by a line of stitches 42. The tube 40 extends 360° around the opening 38 as shown in FIG. 2. The ends 44 and 46 of the tube 40 are joined together by a line of stitches 48. The ends 44 and 46 of the tube 40 are sewn to adjacent zipper sides 50 and 52, as shown in FIG. 1, when a zipper 54 is provided.

Two strap assemblies 56 includes a first strap 58 with an end secured to the left side panel 16 above and to the rear of the ear opening 26 by stitches 60. A second strap 62 with an end secured to the left side panel 16 above and to the front of the ear opening 26 by stitches 64. A length adjustment buckle 66 connects the first strap 58 to the second strap 62 of one of the strap assembly 56.

The second one of the two strap assemblies 56 includes a first strap 58 with an end secured to the right side panel 18 above and to the rear of the ear opening 26 by stitches 60. A second strap 62 with an end is secured to the right side panel 18 above and to the front of the ear opening 26 by stitches 64. A length adjustment buckle 66 connects the first strap 58 to the second strap 62 of the strap assemblies 58.

A stretchable rubber line 70 passes through a grommet 72 in the right side panel 18 above and to the rear of an ear opening 26 and below the stitches 60. The line 70 passes from the grommet 72, above the ear opening 26 and through a grommet 74 in the fabric tube 40. The line 70 extends from the grommet 72 through the tube 40 downward and under the face opening 38, up and through a second grommet 76 in the tube 40. The line 70 passes through the second grommet 76 and out of the tube 40, above the ear opening in the left side panel 16, and through a grommet 78 through the left side panel 16. The grommet 78 is in the left side panel 16 above and to the rear of the ear opening and below the stitches 60. The ends 80 and 82 of the line 70 pass through a spring biased clamp 84 adjacent to a rear surface 86 of the center panel 24. The clamp 84 is released manually to adjust the length of the line 70 in the loop in the fabric tube 40 under the face opening 38.

A stretchable rubber line 90 is mounted in the tube 40 and extends across the top of the face opening 38. The ends 92 and 94 of the stretchable rubber line 90 are looped around the line 70 and fixed to the line by clips 96 and 98 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The stretchable rubber line 70, as described above and shown in FIG. 3 is a single continuous line with both ends passing through the spring biased clamp 84. Pulling the ends 80 and 82 of the line 70 farther through the clamp 84 tensions the line 70 in the tube 40. Tensioning the line 70 inside the tube 40 also tensions the line 90 and holds the upper portion of the tube 40, above the face opening 38, against a person's forehead.

Loosening the stretchable rubber line 70 by releasing the spring biased clamp 84 and moving the clamp toward the free ends 80 and 82 of the line releases tension on both of the lines 70 and 90. With tension released on the line 70 and the line 90, the tube 40 can be moved over a person's head and around the person's neck. The head 10 can then be rolled up into a collar until it is needed again as explained above.

An alternate construction has the end 92 of the stretchable rubber line 90 is anchored to the left side panel 16 near the grommet 76. The other end 94 of the stretchable line 90 is anchored to the right side panel 18 near the grommet 74. With this alternate construction, the line 90 is elongated to pull the opening over a person's head.

The hood 10 as shown in FIG. 4 has a zipper 54. When the zipper 54 is zipped up, the hood 10 shown in FIG. 4, functions the same as the hood without a zipper as shown in FIG. 3. The stretchable rubber line 70, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 has a severed center portion that creates ends 100 and 102. End 100 of the severed line 70 is anchored adjacent to the left zipper side 50 of the zipper 54. End 102 of the severed line 70 is anchored adjacent to the right zipper side 52 of the zipper 54. When the zipper 54 is unzipped, tension on both lines 70 and 90 is reduced and the hood 10 can be removed.

The hood 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is sewn to and is part of a pullover coat 104. Stitches 106 connect the hood 10 and the coat 104. Stitches 108 connect the left side panel 16 to the right side panel 18 as shown in FIG. 2. The stitches 108 could be replaced by a zipper 54 as shown in FIG. 1 if desired. The zipper 54 can be lengthened to extend to the bottom edge 110 of the coat 104 if desired thereby converting a pullover to a coat with a zipper front closure. Hand warming pockets 122 are sewn to the front of the pullover coat 104.

The side panels 16 and 18 provide sufficient material for the lower portion of the fabric tube 40 to be moved up over a person's nose. The stretchable rubber line 70 is tensioned and holds by the spring biased clamp 84, to hold the lower portion of the tube 40 in a position slightly below a hunter's eyes if desired. The stretchable rubber line 70 can also be loosened to lower the lower portion of the tube 40 below a person's chin if desired. The strap assemblies 56 and the line 90 hold the upper portion of the tube 40 above a person's eyes.

The strap assemblies 56 are adjustable to position the left and right ends of the face opening 38 relative to a person's eyes. The stretchable line 90 holds the upper portion of the fabric tube 40 against a person's forehead above the person's eyes. The stretchable rubber line 70 holds the lower portion of the tube 40 where a person would like it to be. These adjustments permit a person to wear a hat with a front bill under the hood if desired.

The hood 10 can be provided with a hood liner 112 if desired. A liner 112 will provide additional comfort is cold weather. The liner 112 is made with embedded nano-particles of silver embedded therein. Body odors from humans are caused to some extent by micro-organisms. Silver is known to inhibit the growth of such organisms and is therefore an odor eliminator. The coat 104 can also be lined with a coat lining 114 with embedded nano-particles of silver to eliminate odor.

The hood 10 has male snap members 116 and female snap members 118 attached to its lower skirt portion 120 as shown in FIG. 5. When a separate hood 10, shown in FIG. 1, is not in use, it can be rolled up and retained by engagement between the snap members 116 and 118. 

1. A hunter's hood with adjustable face opening comprising: an outer shell including a fabric left side panel, a fabric right side panel, and a fabric center panel sewn to the fabric left side panel and sewn to the fabric right side panel; a left ear opening in the fabric left side panel with a left ear opening top tongue sewn to the fabric left side panel and movable between a left ear opening closed position and a left ear opening open position; a right ear opening in the fabric right side panel with a right ear opening top tongue sewn to the fabric left side panel and movable between a right ear opening closed position and a right ear opening open position; a face opening encircled by the fabric center panel, the fabric left side panel, the fabric right side panel and a fabric connection between the fabric left side panel and the fabric right side panel below the face opening; a fabric tube sewn to the fabric left side panel, the fabric right side panel, the fabric center panel, extending completely around the face opening and forming a passage sized to permit passage of a hunter's head through the face opening; a left strap assembly with an adjustable length, having a left first end secured to the fabric left side panel above and to the rear of the left ear opening and a left second end secured to the fabric left side panel above and to the front of the left ear opening; a right strap assembly with an adjustable length, having a right first end secured to the fabric right side panel above and to the rear of the right ear opening and a right second end secured to the fabric right side panel above and to the front of the right ear opening; a right grommet in the fabric right side panel above and to the rear of the right ear opening and a right tube grommet in the fabric tube; a left grommet in the fabric left side panel above and to the rear of the left ear opening and a left tube grommet in the fabric tube; a stretchable elastic line passing through the right grommet from a hood outside to a hood inside, through the right tube grommet, through the fabric tube under the face opening, through the left tube grommet and into the hood inside, through the left grommet in the fabric left side panel to the hood outside, and a spring biased clamp that receives a right elastic line end and a left elastic line end on the hood outside; a stretchable upper elastic line mounted inside the fabric tube and extending through the fabric tube above the face opening, having an upper line right end loop that receives the stretchable elastic line adjacent to the right tube grommet and inside fabric tube, and having an upper line left end loop that receives the stretchable elastic line adjacent to the left tube grommet and inside the fabric tube; wherein tensioning the stretchable elastic line and holding the tension with the spring biased clamp tensions the stretchable upper elastic line, and wherein releasing tension on the stretchable elastic line by releasing the spring biased clamp releases tension on the stretchable upper elastic line. 